KYRGYZ NSC DEPUTY ON BASE-RELATED ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000906 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN (GEHRENBECK) E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KDEM KG SUBJECT: KYRGYZ NSC DEPUTY ON BASE-RELATED ISSUES REF: A. BISHKEK 707 ¶B. BISHKEK 894 Classified By: CDA Lee Litzenberger, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On July 12, Charge provided an all-encompassing review of USG assistance programs to Kyrgyzstan for FY07 to Major General Alik Mamyrkulov, Chief Inspector for the National Security Council (NSC). Charge gave detailed explanations of numerous State Department and USAID programs in the fields of economic development, health, education and good governance. The presentation was a follow-up to previous discussions between Ambassador Yovanovitch and Foreign Minister Karabayev, President Bakiyev (ref A),and most recently, Secretary of the NSC, Major General Toktokuchuk Mamytov SIPDIS regarding the $150 million assistance package announced during the July 2006 base negotiations. Mamyrkulov expressed his gratitude for the thorough explanation and stated that the information provided was precisely what Mamytov had requested during his meeting with Ambassador. Mamyrkulov promised to deliver the presentation figures to the appropriate officials. ¶2. (C) Charge pressed Mamyrkulov on the still unresolved issue of a U.S. Department of Defense ammunition shipment seized by the Kyrgyz government on May 24. The ammunition, destined for the Afghan security forces, was flown to Manas International Airport by a Russian subcontractor to the DOD with the intention of transferring it to a Belorussian subcontractor for final delivery to Afghanistan. Mamyrkulov stated that the NSC position was that the cargo should be released to the U.S., and that any documentation issues could be resolved separately. He undertook to add his support for efforts by Presidential Chief of Staff Sadyrkulov and Presidential Foreign Policy Advisor Ryskulov to set up a meeting between the Embassy and the GKNB intelligence service that seized the cargo and has since refused to discuss the issue with the Embassy. Speaking personally, Mamyrkulov said he fully understood the U.S. position, but was not able to guarantee that the GKNB would accept the NSC's position on the matter. ¶3. (C) Charge also passed on a copy of the diplomatic note delivered to Deputy Foreign Minister Sarbayev on July 10 that responded to Kyrgyz proposals to change the 2006 base protocol (ref B). Mamyrkulov expressed his appreciation for the additional information, noting that NSC Secretary Mamytov had asked him to request a response by August 1. Mamyrkulov welcomed the note's offer to discuss issues of concern. LITZENBERGER